Well, sure, a green hued dress is lovely if that’s your style, but according to modern vernacular, a ‘green’ wedding dress would more likely be made of organic hemp silk than Astroturf colored satin.
A green wedding reflects the marrying couple’s commitment to sustainability and ecological issues. It’s about making a difference, and perhaps an impression. As Michelle Kozin, founder of Organicweddings.com, puts it, “You have a captive audience you can influence with your choices.”
The wedding industry can be a killer in terms of waste and blind consumption. Roughly 2.4 million couples get married every year in the U.S., and the average wedding cost is up to $28,000.00. Next to a mortgage or an education fund, that’s chump change: but we’re talking about a day. It costs well under $100 to get a marriage license, no matter what state you live in, and, $75 to $300 to hire an official to perform the ceremony, depending. So that’s $27,700 on fanfare and celebration! Now it’s your choice weather to go for the disposable votives, imported Japanese orchid blooms and corn fed beef, or to look into alternative options. <!–[endif]–>
Did you say, “Like what?” Well, here goes…
The Menu:
A large percentage of the wedding budget is spent on catering, so why not consider local, organic food and wine? If you’re beer drinkers, how about some organic brews? If you eat meat, seek out wild fish and grass fed beef.
Why organic food? Organics are not only healthier for the consumer, they are also better for the environment. Organic farming practices protect waterways, soil, and wildlife by not using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Using local food sources means less fossil fuel spent on shipping and fewer post-harvest pesticides.
The Paper:Save-the-dates, invitations, envelopes, reply cards, reply envelopes, direction cards, next day brunch invitations, lists, contracts, notes, programs, escort cards, name place cards, well wishes for the bride and groom, wrapping paper, thank you cards: When all is said and done, a wedding from start to finish, can draw on a lot of paper…
As diagramed by the U.S. EPA in 2000, close to 40 percent of the waste material in U.S. landfills is paper. So, to do right by our natural resources, get creative about limiting your paper use, such as including hotel block and transportation information on your wedding website to limit insert cards in your invitation set, doing away with programs or having non-paper escort “cards”. When you do buy paper, support the economy of recycling by looking for unbleached, 30-100% Post Consumer Waste (PCW) papers.The Venue:
It is possible to find green hotels, http://www.greenhotels.com/, and there is always the great outdoors, if you are dedicated to a “leave no trace” philosophy. However, also consider finding a museum, park, center or other nonprofit organization that is dedicated to like-minded causes.
The environmental costs of travel are also high (emissions, jet fuel, etc.), so consider choosing your location on the basis of where the majority of your guests live and perhaps have your ceremony and reception at the same venue.
If your guests do need to drive, you could help to encourage carpools.
The Flowers:
Flowers are wedding staples, highly regarded as accents of natural beauty… but all that looks natural, may not be. Look a little more closely at its path to existence and you will notice that many flowers are imported (Ecuadorian Roses, etc.). Not only does the distance they have to travel increase their carbon footprint, but many foreign pesticides are unregulated, and because flowers are not a food crop, they go unchecked for residues.
To support safer, greener practices you can buy local, preferably local, organic flowers. Local flowers will be marked local, or you can ask your florist for help with this. Check out your local farmers’ market to what’s in season.
As cut flower alternatives, grow your own centerpieces from bulb or seed! And/or, incorporate tasteful silk flowers, http://www.flowersforrent.com/.The Apparel:
Did you know that polyester is petroleum-based? And according to The Organic Exchange, http://www.organicexchange.org/, the USDA indicates that approximately 6 pounds of pesticides are used per acre in the growing “natural” cotton! Un-dyed, unbleached, certified organic cotton or hemp-silk is the most environmentally sound way to go for a custom dress. However, consider recycling a vintage dress, which you can have tailored to your every curve! (And, if you must dye you shoes, see if you can have them tinted with natural vegetable dye.)
The Rings:Gold mining releases poisonous cyanide and mercury into the environment, and the diamond market is a controversial one.
You could avoid all of that by having vintage gold rings resized, or create custom jewelry at greenKarat, ecologically responsible jewelry: http://greenkarat.com/.
The Favors & Gifts:Doodads and knickknacks with your name on them may seem to be the required wedding souvenir, and if you don’t register, you may receive some of these as gifts (the ever popular ill-fitting bathrobe and slipper sets emblazoned with, “Just Married”…See my article, Create a Sustainable Registry).
When it comes to favors, consider these ideas:
Make a meaningful donation in your guests’ honor. Peruse Charity Navigator, http://www.charitynavigator.org/, for information and ideas.
Local organic foodstuffs are often apt favors: organic artisan chocolates or local honey. See what’s available at the farmer’s market!
Give from the heart: a combined family recipe book, a CD of your wedding music, a seedling for yard or garden…
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Overall, recycle and use recycled or reusable items where you can and reduce waste by donating or gifting leftovers. Keep the big picture in mind and know that our actions are cumulative- and you, too, can have a green wedding!
Considering an eco-friendly honeymoon? Read my tips on green honeymoons or destinations weddings: ZahZoom.blogspot.com
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[…] 3. Here’s one that was actually done by a guest blogger on Our Wedding Plus. Checkout this great article by Nelle Johnston, a Green Wedding Planner and owner of Zahzoom Weddings and Parties! Click here: “You Mean the Dress is Green?” […]
[…] Websites / Invitations / Ideas — Our Wedding Plus wrote a fantastic post today on “You Mean the Dress is Green? — Our Wedding Plus”Here’s ONLY a quick extract of the wedding budget is spent on catering, so why not consider local, organic food and wine […]
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